Speak Pashto with confidence across Swat
Your practical phrase guide for hotels, taxis, markets, and daily conversations in Swat.
Speak Swat, one line at a time
This guide is built for travelers who want practical Pashto, not textbook Pashto. You get 200+ words and sentences, the right greeting, short sentence patterns, and real-life dialogues you can read, repeat, and use right away.
Read the Pashto line
Start with the native script so you can recognize real signs and replies.
Repeat the transliteration
Say the romanized form slowly, then speed up once it feels natural.
Read it out loud
Say the line a few times and match the rhythm, then try it in a real conversation.
1. Core Greetings and Courtesy
These are the first words that make conversations easier. Use them in hotels, taxis, shops, and with locals who appreciate a visitor trying Pashto.
اسلام عليکم
Assalam-o-Alaikum
Hello / Peace be upon you
وعليکم السلام
Wa alaikum as-salam
Reply to greeting
ستړی مه شې
Stari ma she
Hello / welcome (informal context)
په خیر راغلی
Pa khair raghly
Welcome / May you come safely
څنګه يې؟
Tsenga ye?
How are you?
زه ښه يم
Za kha yam
I am fine
تاسو څنګه يې؟
Taso tsenga ye?
How are you? (formal)
مننه
Manana
Thank you
ډېره مننه
Dera manana
Thank you very much
مهرباني
Mehrabani
Please / kindness
بخښنه غواړم
Bakhshena ghwaram
I am sorry / excuse me
د خدای په امان
Da Khudai pa aman
Goodbye
خوشحال شم
Khush-hal sham
I am happy to meet you
2. Essential Words & Objects
Learn the short words you will actually use on the road, at the table, or when you need directions.
اوبه
Oba
Water
ډوډۍ
Doday
Bread / meal
چای
Chai
Tea
کب / مهیان
Kab / Mahyan
Fish
گوشت
Gosht
Meat
مرغ
Murgh
Chicken
سبزۍ
Sabzi
Vegetables
ميوه
Mewa
Fruit
سيب
Seb
Apple
انار
Anar
Pomegranate
هو
Ho
Yes
نه
Na
No
نن
Nin
Today
سبا
Saba
Tomorrow
پروسه
Proza
Yesterday
چېرته
Cherta
Where
څنګه
Tsenga
How
څو
Tso
How much / how many
کله
Kala
When
ولې
Wale
Why
لاره
Lara
Road / way
بازار
Bazaar
Market
هوټل
Hotel
Hotel
روغتون
Roghtoon
Hospital
ډاکټر
Doctor
Doctor
داروغر
Daroghar
Pharmacist
پوليس
Police
Police
ريسکيو
Rescue
Rescue / Emergency
مرسته
Mrasta
Help
ګران
Garan
Expensive
ارزان
Arzan
Cheap
ښه
Kha
Good
خراب
Khrab
Bad
کم
Kam
Less
زيات
Ziyat
More
ډېر
Der
Very / A lot
گرم
Garm
Hot / Warm
سړد
Surd
Cold
خشک
Khushk
Dry
لندبې
Lundabi
Wet
خطرناک
Khatarnak
Dangerous
محفوظ
Mahfooz
Safe
تیز
Tez
Fast
آهسته
Ahista
Slow
نقشه
Naqsha
Map
ټيکټ
Ticket
Ticket
پيسې
Pesey
Money
کارډ
Card
Card
ساعت
Saat
Clock / Watch / Hour
وخت
Wakht
Time
Basic Sentence Patterns
Use these complete sentences directly in daily travel. They are short, clear, and useful for asking, ordering, confirming, and responding without needing long grammar lessons.
زه سوات ته ځم
Za Swat ta zam
I am going to Swat
زه کلام ته ځم
Za Kalam ta zam
I am going to Kalam
زه اوبه غواړم
Za oba ghwaram
I want water
زه چای غواړم
Za chai ghwaram
I want tea
زه ډوډۍ غواړم
Za doday ghwaram
I want bread
زه کب غواړم
Za kab ghwaram
I want fish
دا څو ده؟
Da tso da?
How much is this?
لږ کم کړئ
Lag kam karey
Please reduce a little
دا ډېر ښه دی
Da der kha de
This is very good
مرچ کم کړئ
Mirch kam karey
Please reduce spice
ډاکټر چېرته دی؟
Doctor cherta de?
Where is the doctor?
مهرباني وکړئ مرسته وکړئ
Mehrabani wakray, mrasta wakray
Please help me
زه ښه نه يم
Za kha na yam
I am not feeling well
زه دا اخلم
Za da akhlam
I will take this
تاسي کومه ملک ته د؟
Taso koma mulk ta da?
What country are you from?
زه امریکا ته د
Za America ta da
I am from America
زه انګلستان ته د
Za England ta da
I am from England
تاسو انګرېزي ويل کول شئ؟
Taso Engrez wil kawal shay?
Do you speak English?
زه انګرېزي کم ويل کوم
Za Engrez kam wil kom
I speak a little English
چېرته بازار دی؟
Cherta bazaar de?
Where is the market?
هوټل چېرته دی؟
Hotel cherta de?
Where is the hotel?
بس چې وخت دی؟
Bus che wakht de?
When is the bus?
کال قيمت څو دی؟
Kaala qeemat tso de?
What is the yearly rate?
دا ښه ده
Da kha da
This is good
دا برابره ده
Da barabara da
This is fair/equal
Travel Words You Will Use Most
This extra bank gives you the practical nouns travelers ask for every day in hotels, streets, shops, and on the road.
کمره
Kamra
room
تشناب
Tashnaab
bathroom
کيلۍ
Keley
key
کټ
Kat
bed
کمبل
Kambal
blanket
بالښت
Balisht
pillow
توليه
Tolia
towel
صابون
Saboon
soap
اوبه
Oba
water
چای
Chai
tea
مینو
Menu
menu
بازار
Bazaar
market
دوکان
Dukaan
shop
لاره
Lara
road
پل
Pul
bridge
سيند
Seend
river
غر
Ghar
mountain
وادۍ
Waadi
valley
هوټل
Hotel
hotel
روغتون
Roghtoon
hospital
ډاکټر
Doctor
doctor
دواخانه
Dawa khana
pharmacy
پوليس
Police
police
ريسكيو
Rescue
rescue team
ټکسي
Taxi
taxi
بس
Bus
bus
جيپ
Jeep
jeep
موټر
Motor
car
نقشه
Naqsha
map
ټېليفون
Telephone
phone
چارجر
Charger
charger
بيټرۍ
Battery
battery
انټرنېټ
Internet
internet
سيګنل
Signal
signal
پارکنګ
Parking
parking
ټکټ
Ticket
ticket
پيسې
Pesey
money
کارډ
Card
card
نقدي
Nagdi
cash
مېلمه
Melma
guest
6. Grammar and Structure for Real Use
This is the smallest grammar you need to understand sentence shape, respect level, and useful question words.
Subject Object Verb order
زه ډوډۍ خورم (Za doday khoram) -> I eat bread
Respect level
ته (ta) informal singular, تاسو (taso) formal or plural
Question words
چېرته (where), څنګه (how), څو (how much), کله (when), ولې (why)
Useful connectors
او (and), خو (but), ځکه (because), که (if)
6A. Days of the Week
Learn the days to plan your Swat journey, schedule meetings, and understand local calendars.
دوشنبه
Doshanbah
Monday
سه شنبه
Seshnbah
Tuesday
چهارشنبه
Chahar-shanbe
Wednesday
پنج شنبه
Panj-shanbe
Thursday
جمعه
Juma
Friday
شنبه
Shanbah
Saturday
يکشنبه
Yekshanbe
Sunday
6B. Months of the Year
Use these month names to talk about seasons, plan trips, and discuss dates with locals.
جنوري
Janwari
January
فبروري
Fabrawri
February
مارچ
March
March
اپريل
April
April
مې
May
May
جون
June
June
جولای
July
July
اگست
August
August
سپتمبر
September
September
اکتوبر
October
October
نومبر
November
November
دسمبر
Disember
December
6C. Numbers and Counting
Essential for asking prices, quantities, addresses, phone numbers, and any number-related conversation while traveling.
صفر
Sifar
0
يو
Yaw
1
دوه
Dwa
2
درې
Drey
3
څلور
Tsalor
4
پنځه
Pinza
5
شپږ
Shpag
6
اوه
Awa
7
اته
Ata
8
نهه
Nuh
9
لس
Las
10
يوولس
Yawolas
11
دولس
Dulas
12
تیرولس
Teyralas
13
څوارلس
Tsawralas
14
پنځولس
Pinzalas
15
شپاړلس
Shparalas
16
اوولس
Awolas
17
اتولس
Atolas
18
نولس
Nolas
19
بیست
Bist
20
تیس
Tees
30
څلویس
Tsalwees
40
پنجاس
Pinjas
50
شپتيا
Shpatya
60
اويا
Awya
70
اتيا
Atya
80
نويا
Nwya
90
سل
Sal
100
دو سل
Dwa sal
200
پنځه سل
Pinza sal
500
زره
Zara
1,000
دو زره
Dwa zara
2,000
لس زره
Las zara
10,000
لاک
Lakh
100,000
7. Real Dialogues You Will Actually Use
These short role-plays cover the most common Swat travel moments, from checking in to asking for directions and making polite requests.
Dialogue 1: Hotel Check-in
You arrive at a hotel in Mingora.
You
اسلام عليکم
Assalam-o-Alaikum
Hello
Reception
وعليکم السلام
Wa alaikum as-salam
Hello
You
يوه کمره شته؟
Yawa kamra shta?
Is there one room available?
Reception
هو، شته
Ho, shata
Yes, available
You
د يوې شپې کرایه څو ده؟
Da yoway shepay kiraya tso da?
How much is one night?
Reception
لس زره روپۍ
Las zara rupay
Ten thousand rupees
Dialogue 2: At a Restaurant
You order food and ask for less spice.
You
مینو راکړئ
Menu rakray
Please give me the menu
Staff
هو، دا واخلئ
Ho, da wakhlay
Yes, here it is
You
زه کب او ډوډۍ غواړم
Za kab aw doday ghwaram
I want fish and bread
You
مرچ کم کړئ
Mirch kam karey
Please use less spice
Staff
سمه ده
Sama da
Okay
Dialogue 3: Asking Directions
You need to go from Mingora to Kalam.
You
بخښنه غواړم، کلام ته لاره کومه ده؟
Bakhshena ghwaram, Kalam ta lara koma da?
Excuse me, which road goes to Kalam?
Local
هماغه سړک نېغ لاړ شئ
Hamagha sarak negh laar shay
Take that road and go straight
You
مننه
Manana
Thank you
Local
ښه راغلاست
Kha raghlast
You are welcome
Dialogue 4: Shopping for Shawls
You are bargaining politely in a bazaar.
You
دا څو دی؟
Da tso de?
How much is this?
Shopkeeper
پنځه زره
Pinza zara
Five thousand
You
ګران دی، لږ کم کړئ
Garan de, lag kam karey
It is expensive, please reduce a little
Shopkeeper
څلور نيم زره روپۍ
Tsalor nem zara rupay
Four and a half thousand rupees
You
سمه ده، دا اخلم
Sama da, da akhlam
Okay, I will take this
Dialogue 5: Health Emergency
You are not feeling well and need help.
You
زه ښه نه يم
Za kha na yam
I am not feeling well
You
ډاکټر چېرته دی؟
Doctor cherta de?
Where is the doctor?
Local
ډاکټر راوغواړئ
Doctor raoghwaraey
Call a doctor
Local
روغتون ته درسره ځم
Roghtoon ta dar sara zam
I will go with you to the hospital
You
ډېره مننه
Dera manana
Thank you very much
- Correct water word is اوبه (Oba).
- څ sound is closer to ts, so څنګه is Tsenga.
- خ has a deeper kh sound than standard English k.
- Speak slower first, speed can come later.
- The room phrase in the hotel dialogue is written as يوه کمره شته؟, transliterated Yawa kamra shta?